Minutes - Council - 04/25/1995 - Laserfiche WebLink

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development". And, "Trail corridors reduce these sensitive areas from the impacts of development. The fa'st part, how can the intrusion of 16,000 potential walkers, (to Mr. Schroeder, these are your figures) with the ensuing noise and litter that they create, protect a sensitive area? The second part, Mr. Deemer stated he agreed with - it will reduce these sensitive areas/ The statement "Sunfish Lake remains a recreational focus of the community and the City should maintain public access to the lake in one or more locations". There are also two issues here. He stated he was not aware of any recreational focus on this lake by the City of Ramsey until this plan modification was brought forward. This is now a private lake. The second issue is there is no public access to this lake currently, so maintaining any is not relevant - gaining an access might be. Even the alignment of the proposed Sunwood Drive will not create a public access. Mr. Deemer added that he can make this statement as he has seen the proposed alignment as the City is buying the right-of-way from him. The developers who are the current owners, including himself, have told the City they do not want a trail in the front yards of the homes on Sunfish Lake. Lake shore property is considered to front on the lake; it pays higher taxes and has a higher market value. Putting a trail here will greatly reduce the City's tax base, as he would request a reduction for not having lake shore frontage. With regard to staff's position on the item about the bridge alignment, or elimination, "ifs a whimp-out". He felt that Council should make a decision about the bridge alignment one way or the other, such as a past Council did, and then let the citizens remind you at re-election time. He felt that the decision should have been made last August; however, a Councilman wanted to be Mayor and denied statements he made. With regard to the proposal to plan for a Rum River bridge crossing corridor through the Boy Scout Camp, Mr. Deemer's comment refers to staff's response. "That wording suggesting that Andover would have an equal say, or participation in the bridge location was made at least two times prior to July 7, 1994, but never included in the documents. Are they finally hearing?" With regard to the thoroughfare plan to address some relief for the congestion on Highway 4/47, Mr. Deemer felt that the City shouldn't spend money studying something so obvious. The City should probably spend the money suing the State Highway Department for their inaction on this, based on the safety issue. He figured that would get someone's attention. Mr. Deemer added that cases are always brought to the Council as "Staff recommends". He stated he has never been able to figure out "who staff was, as there are too many people to share the glory". In conversations with the City Administrator recently, it was mentioned that he didn't have a position. "Well, his name is on the top of your Case #3 document, so he must be the 'Staff' in this case, and it sure looks like a position to me". Mr. Deemer noted the map. He inquired about an overpass - County Road #116 was supposed to extend west of 83. The map is not as the motion said to make it. Tooth Acres is all commercial and industrial. Patty Kurak, 15001 Sunfish Lake Boulevard N.W., Ramsey, inquired where the line is going and if there is going to be a trail at all. Mr. Schroeder replied that the trail is proposed to occur concurrent with subdivision development. Ms. Kurak stated "you have a trail in my back yard and I would like to see that removed". She voiced she does not want it there until a development comes through, at which time more discussion should take place. She asked why City staff will not respect the owners privacy on that lake and reiterated that she wants the trail lines to come off the map. Mr. Schroeder commented that the line used to be along the border of Sunfish Lake - a bit west of where Sunwood Drive is. It would be a diagonal line through there, not on the lake shore. City Council/April 25, 1995 Page 8 of 23